Tag Archives: jen lucas

First, the facts:

Title: Top Down Shawls

Author: Jen Lucas

Published by: Martingale, 2018

Pages: 96

Type: Shawls

Chapters:

Wedge Shawls
Crescent Shawls
Half-Circle Shawls
Design Your Own Shawls

The In-Depth Look:

Adding to her series of books of beautiful shawls, Jen Lucas presents Top-Down Shawls.

The title is pretty self-explanatory–twelve lovely shawls, divided into three basic categories. There is a wedge shape (either a basic triangle or a combination of them), a crescent, or a half-circle.

All the patterns are nice and straight-forward. None of them seem pointed to a knitter looking for a challenging knit, but rather for one who wants something pretty to wear. That sounds a bit like a back-handed compliment, but I say this in the nicest way. They’re not patterns for showing off your knitting skills as much as there so that you have something actually to show. (What good is an elaborate, complicated shawl if it takes you two years to knit and never gets out of the house?)

There are four patterns for each of the basic shapes, and then my favorite part–the chapter on designing your own. (This, frankly, sounds like the author’s favorite chapter, too.) Here she breaks down the basic shapes and then provides a collection of basic lace stitches for you to insert as desired. Speaking as a person who loves options, I particularly appreciate this–there’s something very satisfying about being given a basic framework and set free to do what you want!

You can get this book at Amazon or at a local store.

Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.

This review copy was kindly donated by Martingale. Thank you!

• Sock Yarn Shawls II
• Stunning Stitches

First, the facts:

Title: Sock-Yarn Shawls II: 16 Patterns for Lace Knitting

Author: Jen Lucas

Published by: Martingale Press, 2015

Pages: 82

Type: Patterns

Chapters:
Introduction
Choosing the Right Yarn
Using–and Moving–Stitch Markers
Small Shawls
Midsize Shawls
Large Shawls

The In-Depth Look:

We all love sock yarn, right? I mean, I can’t be the only one with a stash that—let’s face it—is never going to completely turn into socks. It’s just all so pretty and tempting, though, and so we pick up a skein here, a skein there, and next thing you know …

Um, right. Lots of yarn.

So what do you do? Well, this book is a good place to start. Not satisfied with her first book (Sock Yarn Shawls), Jen Lucas is back with more.

She says in her introduction:

“When it came time to start thinking about my second book, I just couldn’t get shawls out of my head … I kept thinking about all the shapes and sizes of shawls that I didn’t hit in that first book. … Sock-yarn shawls don’t need to be made from just one skein of yarn. Sure, the one-skein projects are great for quick knits and perfect for wearing under your coat on a blustery winter day, but sometimes you want something more substantial. It made sense to explore knitting shawls that use more yarn. … Maybe that will help me get the yarn stash under control!”

The sixteen patterns here are divided into three groups by size—small (<450 yards), medium (450-900 yards), and large shawls. Some are single-color, but others give you the opportunity to mix, match, and play with your yarns to bring out your own combinations.

There’s plenty of variety to play with, too. The shapes of the shawls cover pretty much all the possibilities—triangles, circles, crescents, rectangles. Some are started at the center, some at the bottom edge. Some are shaped with short rows, some with the stitch pattern. Some have their borders knit perpendicularly onto the edges, some are simple, some are complex.

Like I said, there’s definite variety. The 16 patterns here all feel different from each other, which can’t be said for every book of patterns out there. They’re attractive, practical, large, small, easy, challenging … practically a perfect collection, because you’ll almost definitely be able to find something inside you want to make.

You can get your copy at your local shop or order it here, at Amazon.com.

Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.

This review copy was kindly donated by Martingale Press. Thank you!